Apparatus for recording and reproducing digital image and speech

ABSTRACT

A digital image and speech recording and reproducing apparatus is arranged to quickly and simply retrieve, classify, and erase a great deal of data for improving the operativity in small-sized equipment. The apparatus includes a recording and reproducing unit for a moving image signal, a recording and reproducing unit for a still image signal, a recording and reproducing unit for a digital speech signal operated in synchronous to the image, a display for displaying the image for said moving image signal or said still image signal, a recording condition recording unit for recording recording conditions containing data information about recorded data for distinguishing said moving image from said still image and recording time information for recording an image or a speech. The recording conditions consisting of at least the data information and the recording time information about the recorded data are graphically and literarily displayed on the display, so that the recorded data item may be selected on the display screen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to operativity of a portable digitalcamcorder.

The prior art relevant to the portable digital comcorder has beenpublished as an electronic photograph system, that is, the so-calledelectronic still camera that is arranged to record a still image signalas a video signal in a memory composed of a semiconductor (termed as asemiconductor memory or simply a memory) as disclosed in JP-A-2-292974.With recent prevail of personal computers, recording mediums such assemiconductor memories and harddisks are progressively made lower incost, smaller in size, and greater in capacity. At a time, the advanceof signal compressing technology such as JPEG or MPEG allows even thesmall-sized equipment to record greater number of still images andmoving ones. Taking a harddisk drive as an example, the resultingharddisk drive is kept as small as a card and has as great a capacity asabout 300 Mbytes.

This type of harddisk drive enables to record about 3000 still imagesthrough the use of the JPEG compression and about 20-minutes movingpicture through the use of the MPEG compression. It is thus necessary toimprove the operativity of the portable equipment for retrieving,grouping, and deleting a great deal of recording data. The techniquedisclosed in JP-A-2-292974, however, does not provide means forretrieving a great deal of recording data quickly and easily. In actual,therefore, the technique does not have any means except the method ofretrieving the great deal of recorded data as checking all imagesreproduced on screen from the recorded data.

In case that 3000 JPEG still images are recorded on a feasible mediasuch as the aforementioned harddisk drive and then are retrieved asexpanding those images on the screen one by one, about one second forexpanding one JPEG still image is required. It means that the expansionof 3000 images needs about one hour. This method lacks inpracticability. In order to retrieve a great deal of data, therefore, itis necessary to enhance the operating speed of the system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus whichis arranged to overcome the foregoing shortcoming and enhance theoperativity even if the apparatus is small-sized.

In carrying out the object, for improving the operativity of asmall-sized apparatus, the present invention is achieved by an apparatuswhich comprises recording means for recording both imaging timeinformation and imaging mode information for distinguishing movingimages from still images at a time when taking the still image or movingimage, display means for displaying as a list the informations as wellas expanded images on a liquid crystal display screen built in the mainbody of the apparatus itself, and keying means for retrieving,classifying, and erasing the recorded data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state transition of a program used in anapparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing an outer appearance of a portable digitalcamcorder in which the program of FIG. 1 is executed;

FIG. 3 is an expanded view showing an operating switch portion providedin the portable digital camcorder in which the program of FIG. 1 isexecuted;

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing an arrangement of a portable digitalcamcorder in which the program of FIG. 1 is executed;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a display screen provided in the portabledigital camcorder in which the program of FIG. 1 is executed;

FIG. 6 is a view showing a display screen on which the recorded data isclassified;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a display screen on which the recorded data isselected;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a display screen with expanded images in whichthe recorded data is selected;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a display screen on which the function detailsof the recorded data are selected;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a method for selecting the functiondetails;

FIG. 11 is a view showing a display screen on which the classificationsof the recorded data are changed;

FIG. 12 is a view showing a display screen on which the displayingsequence of the recorded data is changed;

FIG. 13 is a view showing a display screen on which each date of therecorded data is changed;

FIG. 14 is a view showing a display screen on which each erasingattribute of the recorded data is changed;

FIG. 15 is a view showing a display screen on which a remaining state ofthe recording medium is displayed;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a method for reading recorded data from aharddisk driver and reproducing it;

FIG. 17 is a view showing an imaged screen appearing if a still imagerecording mode is selected when recording an image;

FIG. 18 is a view showing an imaged screen appearing if a moving imagerecording mode is selected when recording an image; and

FIG. 19 is a view showing marks for modes;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Later, the description will be oriented to the embodiments of thepresent invention with reference to FIGS. 1 to 19.

FIG. 1 shows a flow of a software program according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

The software program shown in FIG. 1 flows through the process ofselecting a classification containing data to be played back or handled(101) and reaches the process of playing back the data (103) or flows toa function selecting items (105) in which a temporary discard (106), acomplete abandon (107), a state display (112) of a storage unit, settingof protection from erasion (111), change of a display list (109), orchange of a record date and hour (110) is selected. Moreover, whenselecting a classification (101), the flow goes to the functionselecting items (105) in which a temporary discard (106), a completeabandon (107), a state display of a storage unit (112), or automaticplayback is selected. In the playback (103), a move to next data (115),a move to previous data (116), a fast playback (117), a rewind playback(118), or a temporary stop (121) is selected. In the temporary stop(121), a forward frame advance (119) or reverse frame advance (120) isselected.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an outer appearance of a portable digitalcomcorder 200 in which the software program shown in FIG. 1 is executed.This camcorder 200 provides a capability of recording and reproducing anNTSC or PAL TV system signal.

FIG. 3 is an expanded view showing an operating switch portion of theportable digital camcorder shown in FIG. 2. In the portable digitalcamcorder 200 shown in FIG. 2, with the operating switches, a digitalmoving signal obtained from the camera system is compressed to one MPEG(Moving Picture Expert Group) format and then is recorded on a harddiskstorage medium sized to a memory card. In the playback, with theoperating switches, the MPEG1 format signal recorded in a memory card isexpanded and then displayed on a display unit 201 built in the camcorderitself. The display unit may be connected to the outside of thecomcorder 201. The portable digital camcorder 200 shown in FIG. 2 mayrecorded the MPEG moving image data as well as the JPEG data for thestill images and the MPEG speech format for the speech data.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a circuit arrangement of the portable digitalcomcorder 200. At first, the description will be oriented to theprocedure of recording the moving image through the portable digitalcomcorder 200. When a user presses a recording switch 301, an image ofan object obtained through a lens 401 is converted into thecorresponding electric signal through the effect of a CCD sensor 402.The signal read out of a sensor is electrically processed through a CDS(Correlated Double Sampling) circuit for suppressing the low-frequencynoises of the signal and a circuit 403 integrated with a AGC circuit forcontrolling an automatic gain of the signal for stabilizing the signallevel. Then, the processed signal is converted into a digital signalthrough an ADC 404 and then is applied to a camera signal processingcircuit 405.

A camera signal processing circuit (camera DSP) 405 is configured of afunction of converting a digital pixel signal from the sensor into aluminance signal Y and color difference signals U and V, a function ofadding a synchronous signal, a function of controlling relation betweenan iris and a shutter speed, a function of adjusting a white balance,and a function of digitally zooming in or out the signal. Though notillustrated in detail in FIG. 4, the camera DSP 405 is operated to feeda horizontal and a vertical driving signal pulses to the CCD sensor 402and read the signal from the CCD sensor 402 as adjusting the timingbetween the synchronous signal and the pulses. Moreover, a cameracontrol microcomputer 406 is operated to feed operating parameters forthe DSP 405 to the camera DSP 405 in order to control the overall camerasystem.

On the other hand, the digital luminance signal Y and the digital colordifference signals U and V obtained by the camera DSP 405 are sent to anMPEG1 encoder 409 through a digital bus line. The MPEG1 is a standardcompression format for the digital signal for a moving image. Theencoder 409 operates to compress the data according to the MPEG1 formatand then convert it into the digital data. A numeral 410 denotes aworking memory used in encoding the data according to the MPEG1 format.The data converted into the MPEG1 format is sent to a microcomputer 411for controlling a transmission rate of the digital output data. TheMPEG1 encoder 409, the working memory 410 and the microcomputer 411compose the overall system for compressing the moving image.

The microcomputer 411 for controlling the transmission rate stores aconstant amount of MPEG1-formatted data in a buffer memory 412. Theformatted data is passed through an interface circuit 413 and a cardconnector 414 and reaches a harddisk drive 415. The card connector 414is configured on the PCMCIA standards and thus contains 68 pins. Theharddisk drive 415 is sized to a memory card and subject to the PC cardstandards defined by the PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory CardInternational Association).

The foregoing description has concerned with the method for recordingthe moving image. In case the still image recording mode is selected bythe user, the MPEG encoder 409 is switched to a JPEG compressingcircuit. Then, a still image data is generated at the encoder 409 andthen transferred to the microcomputer 411 for doing the same operationas described above. The MPEG compression data process and the JPEGcompression data process have the same common points, so that the use ofboth the data formats may effectively save the circuit scale. This is awell-known method for saving the circuitry.

Further, the speech signal is converted into an analog electric signalthrough a microphone 418. The analog electric signal is sent to a speechADC 419 for converting the analog electric signal into the correspondingdigital data. The digital speech data is applied into the data busthrough the effect of the MPEG encoder 409. Then, the microcomputer 411performs the MPEG-format-based compression through the program runtherein so that the digital speech data is added to the moving imagedata or the still image data in precise time sequences.

According to this embodiment, the portable digital comcorder 200 isarranged to record the MPEG1-formatted data, the JPEG-formatted data,and the MPEG1-formatted speed data.

In recording the data, the microcomputer 411 also enables to record adata, a time, and a symbol for representing any one of theMPEG1-formatted data, the JPEG-formatted data, and the MPEG1-formatteddata on a time when the recording switch 301 is pressed. At a time, themicrocomputer 411 enables to record a symbol for representing aclassification for retrieving the recorded data and a symbol forrepresenting whether or not the operation of erasing the recorded datais prohibited. In recording the data, the classification symbol isrecorded as “not classified” and the deletion symbol is recorded as“erasable”.

In the general disk operating system, the symbol for indicating theimaging mode is discriminated using a code for a data type. The symbolfor representing the classification and the symbol for representing ifthe data is erased are recorded in the corresponding files.

On the other hand, when recording the data, a digital signal applied tothe camera DSP 405 as a monitoring signal is converted into an analog TVsignal through the effect of an NTSC or PAL encoder built in the circuit405 and then is fed at an output terminal 416 and the built-in displayunit 201. The foregoing description has concerned with theMPEG1-formatted moving image data with the speech. In actual, theJPEG-formatted data or the MPEG1-formatted speech data may be solelyprocessed in the similar manner to the above operation.

When the system stays at the playback mode, the signal flows in anopposite manner to the flow at the recording mode. FIG. 16 is aflowchart showing the reproduction of the signal. Text data indicatinginformation of data is read from the harddisk drive 415 (step 1601).Next, the user retrieves data from a list of data displayed on thebuilt-in display unit 201 and specifies the data to be played back withthe operating switch 408 (step 1604). The list of the recorded datadisplayed on the display unit 201 is a feature of the invention. Withthe specification, a file system is started (step 1605) so that the datais read out of the harddisk drive 415 and then sent to the microcomputer411 (step 1606).

Then, the data type is discriminated (steps 1607 and 1608). If therecorded data is the moving image, the MPEG-formatted moving image dataand the MPEG-formatted speech data are both decoded (step 1609). If therecorded data is the still image, the JPEG-formatted still image data isdecoded (step 1610). If the recorded data is the still image with thespeech, the JPEG-formatted still image data and the MPEG-formattedspeech data are both decoded (step 1611). Then, the decoded image andthe decoded speech if any are displayed on the screen (step 1612).

An indication signal issued by the operating switch 408 is read by asub-microcomputer 407 and then is sent to the microcomputer 411 througha camera-controlling microcomputer 406. The software program accordingto this embodiment is read out of a ROM 417 (Read-only Memory) forstoring a program and then is executed. In this embodiment, the programis stored in the ROM 417. In place of the ROM 417, another storage unitsuch as a flash RAM or a harddisk drive may be used for the purpose.

Next, the data is transferred to the buffer memory 412 through thePCMCIA connector 414 and the interface circuit 413. The timing of thedata stored in the buffer memory 412 is controlled by the microcomputer411. Then, the data whose timing is adjusted is sent to the MPEG1decoder 409. The decoder 409 switches the MPEG1 coding to the MPEG1decoding or vice versa.

The data decoded by the MPEG1 decoder 409 is sent to the camera DSPcircuit 405 through the digital path line. The decoded data is convertedinto an analog video signal through the effect of an NTSC or PAL encoderand a DAC built in the circuit 405 and then is led at an output terminal416 and from the built-in display unit 201 to the outside of theapparatus. The foregoing description has concerned with theMPEG1-formatted moving picture data with the speech. The JPEG-formattedstill image data or the MPEG1-formatted speech data may be solelyprocessed in the same manner as described above.

The portable comcorder of this embodiment is arranged to use a harddiskunit of 260 MB for the harddisk drive 415. In case that only theJPEG-formatted still image data is recorded, about 3000 still images maybe recorded. In actual, the portable comcorder of this invention enablesto retrieve 3000 items of data quickly and easily using the classifyingfunction.

FIG. 4 shows a circuit arrangement about the moving image. Thecorresponding circuit arrangement to that of FIG. 4 is required for thestill images and the speech. That is, the portable comcorder of thisembodiment is arranged to have a general-purpose means for imaging amoving object/a still object, a microphone, means for digitallyconverting a moving image/a still image, means for digitally convertingspeech, and means for digitally recording a moving image, a still image,and a speech signal.

FIG. 5 shows the screen of the built-in display unit 201 used in theembodiment of the invention, in which the diagonal length is 1.8 inch(45.7 mm), the horizontal length is 36.6 mm, and the vertical length is27 mm. The illustrated screen arrangement uses a liquid crystalconsisting of 352 pixels and 240 pixels. In order to reduce the powerconsumption and the size of the portable digital camcorder 200, the1.8-inch liquid crystal is used for the built-in display unit 201. Thisbuilt-in display unit 201 shows an imaging screen formed by a monitoringsignal when recording the signal, a retrieval screen formed by theprogram when retrieving the data, and a playback screen formed by thedecoded data when playing back the data.

In recording the data, the moving image recording mode (MPEG compressionrecording mode) or the still image recording mode (JPEG compressionrecording mode) may be switched each time the mode selecting button ispressed. As the user can select the recording mode with this button, asshown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the mark for each mode located in the upperleft portion of the imaging screen is switched each time the mode isswitched.

FIG. 17 shows the imaging screen appearing when the still imagerecording mode is selected when recording data. In FIG. 17, a numeral1701 denotes a mark representing a still image mode. FIG. 18 shows theimaging screen appearing when the moving image recording mode isselected when recording data. In FIG. 18, a numeral 1801 denotes a markrepresenting the moving image mode. The mark for each mode appears onthe screen so that the user can visually recognize the current imagingmode as he or she is pushing the mode selecting button. This mark allowsthe user to handle the comcorder without having to keep his eyes out ofthe imaging screen. It means that the digital comcorder offersconvenient operativity to the user.

The mark for each mode is displayed on the retrieving screen through theeffect of the program sent from a data containing unit. The retrievingscreen will be discussed in detail together with the display of the modemark. FIG. 19 shows the concrete mark for each mode. In actual, however,the marks are not limited to the illustrative ones. Any mark may be usedif it can distinguish the modes from each other.

In FIG. 5, the display screen 500 consists of 20×9 characters atmaximum, each character consisting of 16 and 24 pixels. The charactersize consisting of 16×24 pixels keeps the maximum recognizable sizecompatible with efficient digitizing of the character data. The blanksof a left side 501, a right side 502, an upper side 503, and a lowerside 504 of the screen are secured because the display unit or thebuilt-in display unit 201 connected to an output terminal 416 disablesto display the overall area of the main screen.

A numeral 505 denotes an operating state display area where theoperating state of the program of this embodiment is displayed. Anumeral 506 denotes an area where the information of the recorded dataand the functions to be operated for specifying the data details of thedata by pressing a function switch 304 are displayed as individual itemsin partitioned sub-screens. A numeral 507 denotes an area where anoperating procedure suggests the operating method to the user.

FIG. 6 shows a display screen 600 appearing when a program startingswitch 303 is pressed by the user for starting the program of thisembodiment. The display screen 600 corresponds to a classifyingselection 101 of FIG. 1 for indicating the state transition of theoperation. As mentioned earlier, the data recorded by the user isunconditionally recorded “unclassified” when recording the data. Thefigure (number of files) displayed on the “unclassified” row stands forthe number of MPEG1-formatted moving image data items with the speech602, the number of JPEG-formatted still image data pieces 603, and thenumber of MPEG1-formatted speech 604.

Likewise, the figure displayed on each row of a mark 605 for indicatingthe first classification, a mark 606 for indicating the secondclassification, and a mark 607 for indicating the third classificationindicate the numbers of data items arbitrarily classified by the user,respectively. A mark 608 for indicating all data items at a batchindicates the total number of the data items on the “unclassified” row601, the “first classified” row 605, the “second classified” row 606,and the “third classified” row 607.

A mark 609 for indicating the “temporary discard” means a classificationfor temporarily discarding the data items so that the user cannoterroneously erase the data items. With the mark 609, the user cantemporarily move the “unclassified”, “first classified”, “secondclassified”, and “third classified” data items to the “temporarydiscard” row. The figure represented on the row of the mark 609 does notcontain a figure represented on the row of the mark 608 for indicatingall data items at a batch.

In FIG. 6, the row of the mark 601 for indicating the unclassificationis reversed to the rows of the other marks. It indicates that the mark601 for indicating the unclassification is the selected item. In placeof the reversing, another kind of way may be used such as change of acolor. The software program is executed by the user so that the recordeddata items whose classifying destinations are not changed are containedin the row of the mark 601 for indicating the unclassification.

When the upper arrow switch 305 a of FIG. 3 is pressed by the user, theselected item is shifted upward by one row, while the lower arrow switch305 c is pressed, the selected item is shifted downward by one row.

In case that the selected item is an item on the first row of thedisplay area 506, that is, on the mark 601 for indicating theunclassification, when the user presses the upper arrow switch 305 a,the selected item is shifted to the item on the sixth row of the displayarea 506, that is, on the mark 609 for indicating the temporary discard.In case that the selected item is an item on the sixth row of thedisplay area 506, that is, on the mark 609 for indicating the temporarydiscard, when the user presses the lower arrow arrow 503 c, the selecteditem is shifted to the item on the first row of the display area 506,that is, on the mark 601 for indicating the unclassification.

When the user presses the right arrow switch 305 b, the display screenis shifted into the screen on which the content of the classification ofthe selected row is represented.

Moreover, the guide indication 610 for the operating procedure isdisplayed so as to remind the user of the operation.

As an example, FIG. 7 shows a display screen 700 on which the mark 605for indicating the first classification is selected so that the dataitems on the row of the mark 605 appear as ones to be selected if theright arrow switch 305 b is pressed by the user. This functioncorresponds to the data selection 102 shown in FIG. 1.

The display screen 700 is a screen on which a data item is to beretrieved from a data list and played back. The data list is a featureof the present invention. On the screen 700, the data items recorded bythe portable digital comcorder 200 may be listed using a mark 703 forrepresenting a sort of data content of a recording start time 702, amoving image, a still image, and a speech, a classifying mark 704, and amark 705 for protecting data from being erased by the erroneousoperation.

The data items displayed on the screen 700 are ranged from the top tothe down in the sequence of the recording year/month/day 701 and therecording start time 702. Hence, the latest recorded data is listed onthe topmost row, so that the user can effectively retrieve the data. Thenumber of the pages of the displayed lists is checked, so that the listsare displayed as pages as indicated by a numeral 707. In the pagedisplay 707, a denominator indicates all the list pages, while anumerator indicates the current one of the list pages.

The imaging status of the user such as the recording date and time andthe data type are automatically recorded as the aforementionedinformation, so that the user can manually record these pieces ofinformation. Since the user may optionally change the classifyingdestination according to his or her purpose, the user's retrieval workfor the destination data is made simpler and more efficient.

These pieces of information are all composed of a list represented incharacters. This does not need a time consumed in expanding thecompressed image data recorded on the media. Further, if the userselects a data item using the operating button, the screen can berewound quickly, so that the quick retrieval is made possible.

This list retrieving operation may offer comfortable operativity withouthaving to impose stress on the user who wants to quickly select therecorded image.

The selecting classification 706 indicates a classification selected bya display screen 600. This embodiment has concerned with the user'sselection of the first classification 605 on the display screen 600.

The display list of the data items on the display screens 700 and 800 isarranged in the sequence of recording the data on the harddisk drive415, that is, in the sequence that the latest data item comes to thetopmost row. Since the user may change the sequence of recording thedata items on the harddisk driver 415, he or she may change the displaysequence. The data immediately after imaging is recorded on the topmostrow (701 of FIGS. 7 and 8) of the display area 506 on the unclassifieddata selecting screen. If the user makes sure of the just imaged data,he or she only reproduces the data and makes sure of the topmost row ofthe display area 506 on the unclassified data selecting screen.

Like the display screen 600, when the user presses the upper arrowswitch 305 a, the selected data item is shifted upward by one row. Whenthe user presses the lower arrow switch 305 c, the selected data item isshifted downward by one row. In this embodiment, the six rows of thedata items are displayed on one screen. In case the user selects thesixth data item, if the lower arrow switch 305 c is pressed, the seventhdata item is displayed on the first row of the display area 506. Itmeans that the seventh data item is the selected item. The eighth, theninth and the following data items are displayed on the second, thethird, and the following rows, respectively.

On the other hand, for example, in case the seventh data item isselected, if the upper arrow switch 305 a is pressed, the seventh dataitem is displayed on the first row of the display area 506. The second,the third, the fourth, the fifth, and the sixth data items arerespectively displayed on the rows after the first one, so the selecteddata item is changed to the sixth data item.

That is, the n-th data item is displayed on a remainder-th row on thedisplay area 506, in which the remainder is obtained by dividing n by 6.

In case the head data item or the tail one is selected, if the upperarrow switch 305 a or the lower arrow switch 305 c is pressed, like thedisplay screen 600, the data items containing the head and the tailitems are displayed as a list so that the head or the tail data item isselected. Though FIG. 6 shows the one-page screen on which the number offolders is fixed, FIGS. 7 and 8 show the screen on which the pages areincreased or decreased in number according to the number of data items.

If the user selects the upper arrow switch 305 a and the lower arrowswitch 305 c shown in FIG. 3 and depresses the right arrow switch 305,the selected data is fed out of the output terminal 416 and is playedback on the built-in display unit 201.

While the data is being played back, the upper arrow switch 305 a, thelower arrow with 305 c, and the left arrow switch 30, as shown in FIG.3, are served as fast feed, rewind, and stop, respectively. While thedata is being played back, if the left arrow switch 305 d served as astop switch is pressed by the user, the playback is stopped, and thedisplay screen 700 is displayed again. The state transition during thedata playback is denoted by a numeral 103 of FIG. 1.

Next, the description will be oriented to the display content on whichreduced images are added to the recording date and time so that thecontent of the data may be easily recognized. In the state of thedisplay screen 700, if the user presses the reduced image display switch302, a reduced image 801 of the first frame of the data listed on thesubject row is displayed on the display screen 800 shown in FIG. 8. Thismakes it possible to surprisingly enhance the retrieval of the data. Thestate transition in the reduced image display function is denoted by anumeral 104 of FIG. 1.

For example, in case that the viewable area of the 1.8-inch built-in LCDdisplay unit 201 consists of 379 dots in horizontal and 220 dots invertical, the reduced image 801 is adjusted to consist of 64 dots inhorizontal and 48 dots in vertical. (if the LCD panel consists of 352and 240 dots, the reduced image 801 consists of 240/48=5 dots invertical and 352/5=70.4 in horizontal. From a vertical viewpoint, thereduced image is one-fifth and from a horizontal viewpoint, the reducedimage is one-fifth with a slight margin.) In this reduction, threereduced images, the recording starting year month day 701, the recordingstarting time 702, the mark 703 representing the content type of thedata indicating the moving image, the still image, and the speech, theclassification mark 704, and the mark 705 for protecting the data frombeing erroneously erased can be all displayed on one screen. This screenarrangement makes it possible to secure more visible reduced images onthe display. Like the display screen 700, on this display screen 800,the data may be played back by pressing the operating button 305 and thelike.

In this state, if the reduced image display switch 302 is pressed again,the display screen is returned to the display screen 600 for displayingthe data classification. The reduced image is depicted in the RAM 410shown in the circuit block of FIG. 4 through the effect of the controlmicrocomputer 411 and the MPEG encoder 409.

In turn, the description will be oriented to a function selectingdisplay screen 900 for easily changing the display state from the dataselecting display screen 700. The function selecting display screen 900includes the reduced number of operation switches and function itemsdisplayed thereon so that the ease of use in operation may be improvedas viewing the screen. The operating switches 304, 305 a, 305 b, 305 c,and 305 d shown in FIG. 3 implement the operating system for selectivelyoperating the function. The state transition on the display screen 900is denoted by a numeral 105 of FIG. 1.

On the reduced image display screen 800, the function selecting displayscreen 900 is displayed by the same procedure. On the display screen600, the display screen having the necessary functions such as “empty agarbage”, “move to a garbage”, “display a state”, and “auto play” shownin FIG. 1 is displayed by the same procedure. In this case, the functionitems on the display screen 900 are not required to be identical withthe function items on the data classifying display screen 600.

The flow of operation on the display screen 900 is shown in FIG. 10. Thedisplay screen 900 is displayed when the user pressed the functionswitch 304 on the display screen 700 (step 1001). The selective movementof each item is indicated by the upper arrow switch 305 a and the switchlower arrow switch 305 c. If the user pressed the upper arrow switch 305a, the selected data item is moved upward by one row. If the lower arrowswitch 305 c is pressed, the selected data item is moved downward by onerow (step 1002). If the user presses the right arrow switch 305 b (step1003), the function of the selected data item is executed (step 1004).If the left arrow function switch 305 d is pressed, the display screen900 is returned to the data selecting display screen 700 (step 1005).

As mentioned earlier, in this embodiment, the erasion of the data isrealized by moving the data to the temporary discard location and thenerase the data contained in the temporary discard location. The statetransition of this function is denoted by a numeral 106 of FIG. 1.

The procedure of erasing the data will be described below.

If the data is erased, the data is moved to the temporary discardlocation. In this case, the procedure for selectively executing “movethe data to a garbage” will be described with reference to FIG. 9.

At first, on the display screen 700, the user selects the data item tobe temporarily discarded with the upper arrow switch 305 a and the lowerarrow operating switch 305 c and then depresses the function switch 304.Then, the display screen 700 is changed to the display screen 900. Theuser selects the “move data to a garbage” 901 with the upper arrowoperation switch 305 a and the lower arrow function switch 305 c andthen depresses the right arrow switch 305 b. Then, the selected dataitem is moved to the garbage that is the temporary discard location. Ifthe user presses the switch 306, the similarly selected data is moved tothe garbage.

When the user selects the “empty a garbage” 902 on the display screen900, all the data items left in the garbage are erased. The statetransition of this function is denoted by a numeral 107 of FIG. 1.

In the operating system, the user is required to do two operations forerasing the data. The two operations protect the data from the user'serroneous erasion.

As mentioned earlier, when recording the data, the classifying symbol tobe allocated to each data item is an unclassified one. When playing backthe data, the classification may be changed by the user's operation.This classifying function is used for classifying the data item. Hence,since the user classifies the data item for each destination, the easeof use of the retrieval may be surprisingly enhanced. The statetransition of this function is denoted by a numeral 108 of FIG. 1.

Later, the description will be oriented to the procedure for changingthe data classification. On the display screen 700, the user selects thedata item whose classification is to be changed with the upper arrowswitch 305 a or the lower arrow operation switch 305 c and then pressesthe function switch 304. Then, the display screen is changed to thedisplay screen 900. The user selects the “change a group” 905 that is afunction of changing the classification with the upper arrow operationswitch 305 a and the lower arrow operation switch 305 c and then pressesthe right arrow switch 305 b. Then, a display screen 1100 is displayedon which the classification of the selected data shown in FIG. 11 ischanged.

If the right arrow switch 305 b is pressed on the display screen 1100,the classification is cyclically changed from “unclassification” to 1 to2 to 3 to “unclassification”. In this embodiment, the update of thesymbol for the classification according to the display screen isexecuted by the control microcomputer 411 at a time when the userpresses the left arrow switch 305 d and the display screen 600 appears.This is intended for enhancing the processing speed and retrying theuser's operation.

As described earlier, unless the user does the following operation, thelist indicated on the display screen 700 is arranged in the recordingsequence of the recorded data. When playing back the data, the sequencemay be changed so as to implement a simple editing function. The statetransition of this function is denoted by a numeral 109 of FIG. 1.

The procedure of changing the data displaying sequence will be describedbelow. At first, on the display screen 700, the user selects the dataitem whose displaying sequence is to be changed with the upper arrowswitch 305 a and the lower arrow switch 305 c. Then, if the functionswitch 304 is pressed, the display screen 900 is displayed.

The user selects the “change a data display sequence” 906 that is afunction of changing the display sequence with the lower arrow switch305 c and depresses the right arrow switch 305 b. Then, the displayscreen 1200 shown in FIG. 12 is displayed, so that the display sequenceof the selected data item may be changed. Next, the user specifies thelocation where the selected data is to be inserted with the upper arrowswitch 305 a and the lower arrow switch 305 c. Then, if the right arrowswitch 305 b is pressed, the selected data item is inserted to thespecified location. In this case, the sequence of the data item locatedafter the specified location is shifted lower by one.

The portable digital camcorder 200 of this embodiment incorporates aninternal clock for displaying on the display screen 700 the date and thetime when the data is recorded. However, if failure such as run-down ofa battery takes place while imaging an object, the recorded data andtime may not be correctly displayed on the display screen 700. In thisembodiment, the user may operate to optionally change the date and timewhen the data is recorded. The state transition of this function isdenoted by a numeral 110 of FIG. 1.

Later, the description will be oriented to the procedure for changingthe date and time. The user selects the data whose recording date andtime are to be changed using the upper arrow switch 305 a and the lowerarrow switch 305 c. Then, if the function switch 304 is pressed, thedisplay screen 900 is displayed. The user selects the “change arecording date and time” 907 that is a function of changing thedisplaying sequence with the upper arrow switch 305 a and the lowerarrow switch 305 c. Next, if the right arrow switch 305 b is pressed,the display screen 1300 shown in FIG. 13 is displayed where therecording date and time of the selected data are to be changed.

In this state, when the user pressed the upper arrow switch 305 a, theyear figure 1301 is increased by 1, while the lower arrow switch 305 cis pressed, the year figure 1301 is decreased by 1. When the right arrowswitch 305 b is pressed, the year figure 1301 is determined as a numericvalue represented at the time point. Next, the user may specify theincrement or decrement of the numeric value of a month figure 1302.

Likewise, if the upper arrow switch 305 a is pressed, the month figure1302 is increased by 1, while if the lower arrow switch 305 c ispressed, the month figure 1302 is decreased by 1. If the right arrowswitch 305 b is pressed, the month figure 1302 is determined as anumerical value displayed at the time point. Next, the user may specifythe increment or decrement of a numerical value of a day figure 1303.

Further, when the left arrow switch 305 d is pressed, the year figure1301 may be retried. The similar operation may be executed to set theday figure 1303, an a.m or p.m. indication 1304, a time figure 1305, anda minute figure 1306. After adjusting a value of the minute figure 1306,if the right arrow switch 305 b is pressed, the change of the recordingdate and time is terminated and the date and time of the data is changedto a new numeric value.

In the case of specifying an numeric value that does not exist in thecalendar such as February 30, the numeric value is changed to thenearest date (that is, March 1) to the value.

In this embodiment, though the user can freely erase the data, the usermay provide the data with an attribute of prohibiting the erasion forpreventing the data from being erased. The state transition of thisfunction is denoted by a numeral 111 of FIG. 1.

Later, the description will be oriented to the procedure for adding theattribute of protecting the data from the erasion to the data. At first,on the display screen 700, the user selects the data whose erasingattribute is to be changed with the upper arrow switch 305 a or thelower arrow switch 305 c. Then, the function switch 304 is pressed, sothat the display screen 700 is changed to the display screen 900. Theuser selects the “change a lock” 904 that is a function of changing theerasing attribute with the upper arrow switch 305 a or the lower arrowswitch 305 c. Then, if the right arrow switch 305 b is pressed, thedisplay screen 1400 is displayed where the erasing attribute of theselected data shown in FIG. 14 is changed.

When the user pressed the right arrow switch 305 b, the erasingattribute is cyclically changed from “disabled” to “enabled” to“disabled”. The protecting mark 705 is displayed or not displayedaccording to the erasing attribute.

In this embodiment, the user can know the remaining volume of theharddisk drive 415. The state transition of this function is denoted bya numeral 112 of FIG. 1.

Hereafter, the description will be oriented to the procedure forchecking the remaining volume of the harddisk drive 415. On the displayscreen 700, if the user presses the function switch 304, the displayscreen 700 is changed to the display screen 900. The user selects the“display a state” 903 that is a function of changing the displayingsequence with the upper arrow switch 305 a or the lower arrow switch 305c. Then, if the right arrow switch 305 b is pressed, the display screen1500 is displayed where the remaining volume of the harddisk drive 415shown in FIG. 15 is shown.

On the display screen 1500, a remaining time 1501 left if only theMPEG1-formatted moving image data with the speech is recorded on theharddisk drive 415, a remaining pages left if only the JPEG-formattedstill image data is recorded, a remaining time 1503 left if only theMPEG1-formatted speech data is recorded, and a remaining volume 1504represented in bytes are all displayed as a list. Since the remainingvolume of the harddisk drive is listed with respect to each recordabledata type, the user can more easily grasp the remaining volume of theharddisk drive 415.

In this embodiment, when playing back the data, the user needs to useonly the switches 305 a, 305 d, 305 c and 305 d for playing back thedata. It is epoch-making that the minimum number of operating switchesare just required for playing back the data.

Another epoch-making point is the increase of the functions withoutincreasing the operating buttons by using the functional selectingscreen 900.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the classified number of dataitems is four including “unclassified”. The classified number of datamay take any value. On the data selecting display screen 700, the dataitems may be displayed as a list independently of the types of themoving image, the still image, and the speech. This embodiment may applyto the function of automatically classifying the data according to thedata type with the user's specification.

Moreover, the control microcomputer 411 is operated to automaticallyselect the data according to the imaging modes such as the moving imageand the still image. For example, the user can select only the imagingmode for the still image, pick up only the image type of the stillimage, and reproduce it.

The foregoing description has been concerned with the specificembodiments of the invention. The present invention may apply to thefollowing arrangement.

For example, the present invention may be achieved by an image recordingapparatus which includes converting means for converting a video signalinto a digital signal, a codec unit for selectively performing a MPEGsystem or a JPEG system compression about the digital signal, forgenerating the compressed data, a recording unit for recording thecompressed data, and a selective indicating means for a compressionmode, for selectively indicating the MPEG system compression or the JPEGsystem compression.

This image recording apparatus may be applicably arranged to switch thecompressing system of the codec unit according to the indication givenby the selective indicating means.

Further, the image recording apparatus may be applicably arranged to adda code for indicating the compression system to the compressed dataaccording to the indication given by the selective indicating means.

Further, the image recording apparatus may be applicably arranged sothat the codec unit may be a circuit for performing the MPEG system andthe JPEG system processing at one process.

Moreover, the image recording apparatus may be applicably arranged sothat the video signal is obtained from an imaging element and therecording unit is a harddisk drive.

The present invention may be also achieved by the image reproducingapparatus which includes a recording unit for receiving compressed datagenerated according to the MPEG system or the JPEG system and recordingthe compressed data, specifying means for specifying a data item to bereproduced of the compressed data recorded in the recording unit,readout means for retrieving and reading out the compressed dataspecified by the specifying means from the recording unit, a codec unitfor selectively performing the MPEG system or the JPEG system expansionabout the compressed data and generating the digital signal, andconverting means for converting the digital signal generated by thecodec unit into a video signal.

Moreover, the image reproducing apparatus may be applicably arranged sothat the expanding system of the codec unit may be switched according tothe compressed data read out of the readout means.

Further, the image reproducing apparatus may be applicably arranged sothat the compressed data of the recording unit pre-contains the codeindicating the compressing system and the expanding system of the codecunit may be switched according to the code for indicating thecompressing system added to the compressed data read out of the readoutmeans.

Further, the image reproducing apparatus may be applicably arranged sothat the codec unit may be a circuit for performing the MPEG system andthe JPEG system expansion at one process, the video signal is output tothe built-in display unit, and the recording unit may be a harddiskdrive.

The present invention may be achieved by the image recording andreproducing apparatus for converting a video signal into a digitalsignal, recording the digital signal, converting the digital signal intothe video signal, and reproducing the video signal, which includes acodec unit for selectively performing the MPEG system or the JPEG systemcompression about the digital signal for generating the compressed datain recording the data and selectively performing the MPEG system or theJPEG system expansion about the compressed data for generating thedigital signal in reproducing the data, a recording unit for recordingthe compressed data, selective indicating means for the compressing modefor selectively indicating the MPEG system compression or the JPEGsystem compression, specifying means for specifying the data to bereproduced of the compressed data recorded in the recording unit, andreadout means for retrieving and reading the compressed data specifiedby the specifying means from the recording unit.

Moreover, the image recording and reproducing apparatus may beapplicably arranged so that the codec unit may switch the compressingsystem according to the indication given by the selective indicatingmeans in recording the data or the expanding system according to thecompressed data read out of the readout means in reproducing the data.

Further, the image recording and reproducing apparatus may be applicablyarranged so that in recording the data, the recording unit adds the codefor indicating the compressing system to the compressed data accordingto the indication given by the selective indicating means and recordsthe compressed data and in reproducing the data, the codec unit switchesthe expanding system according to the code for indicating thecompressing system added to the compressed data read out of the readoutmeans.

Moreover, the image recording and reproducing apparatus may beapplicably arranged so that the codec unit may be a circuit forperforming the MPEG system and the JPEG system processing at oneprocess, the video signal to be recorded is obtained from an imagingelement, the video signal to be reproduced is output to the built-indisplay unit, and the recording unit is a harddisk drive.

As described above, as keeping the capacity of the recording mediumlarger and advancing the compressing technology, the data items to berecorded on one recording medium are increased in number. Thisembodiment, however, makes it possible to do the recording and thereproducing operations with quite few keys. Hence, this embodimentoffers the below-indicated effects, so that it may improve theoperativity even if it is applied to the small-sized apparatus with alimited space prepared for the operation buttons or switches.

This embodiment may display the recording date and time information andthe marks for modes such as the moving image, the still image, and thestill image with the speech as a list. Hence, the user can efficientlyand quickly retrieve the data as grasping the content of the data. Inrecording the data, the marks are switchably displayed on the imagingscreen each time the mode is switched so that the user can grasp thecurrent imaging mode. Hence, the user can focus his or her attentiononto the imaging screen at any mode when recording the data.

The display list is composed of a date and a time. The apparatus of thisembodiment may automatically create the overall list and at once outputthe reduced images, so that the user can more easily grasp the contentof the data.

The imaged data may be classified to the predetermined locations. Hence,the imaged data may be classified on the mode information and the dateand time information according to the imaging statue and the object.This classification makes it easier for the user to retrieve the data.

Further, the displaying sequence of the list and the generating sequenceof the data are allowed to be replaced depending on the mode informationand the date and time information. Hence, the optimal reproducing effectcan be obtained without having to depend on the recording sequence.

Then, the classification of “temporary discard” is provided forpreventing the erasion of the data resulting from the user's erroneousoperation and reusing the unnecessary data if it is made necessary afterbeing deleted.

As described above, if the operation on the relatively simple graphicscreen is executed to record a great deal of data, the function of thisembodiment enables to offer quicker retrieval than the conventionalfunction of reproducing the data as expanding all image screens.

What is claimed is:
 1. A digital camera comprising: a lens, an imagingdevice which converts an optical image into an analog signal; an A/Dconverter which converts the analog signal from said imaging device to adigital signal; a compressor which compresses said digital signaloutputted from said A/D converter, and generates compressed data byusing a different compressing method for moving image signals than forstill image signals; a recording circuit which records compressed data,said compressed data including a moving image signal, and a still imagesignal; a decompressor which decompresses said compressed data by usinga different decompressing method according to whether said recordedcompressed data is a moving image signal or a still image signal; areproducing circuit which reproduces a moving image signal, a soundsignal in synchronous to said moving image signal, and a still imagesignal; and a display which displays moving image signals and stillimage signals outputted from said reproducing circuit, and a list ofsaid moving image signals and still image signals in a search mode;wherein said recording circuit records recording information data fordistinguishing a moving image signal from a still image signal andrecording time data for indicating when an image is recorded, and saidlist of image signals displayed by said display in a search modeincludes a plurality of marks for distinguishing a moving image signalfrom a still image signal and said recording time data corresponding toeach displaying mark.
 2. A digital camera comprising: a lens, an imagingdevice which converts an optical image into an analog signal; an A/Dconverter which converts the analog signal from said imaging device to adigital signal; a compressor which compresses said digital signaloutputted from said A/D converter, and generates compressed data byusing a different compressing method for moving image signals than forstill image signals; a recording circuit which records compressed data,said compressed data including a moving image signal, and a still imagesignal; a decompressor which decompresses said compressed data by usinga different decompressing method according to whether said recordedcompressed data is a moving image signal or a still image signal; areproducing circuit which reproduces a moving image signal, a soundsignal in synchronous to said moving image signal, and a still imagesignal; and a display which displays said moving image signals and stillimage signals outputted from said reproducing circuit, a list of saidmoving image signals and still image signals in a search mode, and alist of classifications in a classification mode; wherein said recordingcircuit records an image signal with classification data and informationdata for distinguishing a moving image signal from a still image signal,and recording time data for indicating when an image is recorded, andsaid display displays a plurality of classifications and a number ofmoving image signals, still image signals, still image with soundsignals, distinguishably, belonging to each classification in saidclassification mode, after selecting one classification in saidclassification mode by a user, said search display displays a list of aplurality of image signals belonging to the selected classification witha mark for distinguishing a moving image signal from a still imagesignal and a recording time corresponding to each mark.
 3. A digitalcamera according to claim 1, wherein said recording information dataincludes recording time data for indicating when a image is recorded,and said display displays said recording time information correspondingto each displaying image signals.
 4. A digital camera according to claim1, wherein said recording time data indicates recording start date andrecording start time.
 5. A digital camera according to claim 1 or 2,said recording circuit records a sound signal in synchronous to saidmoving image signal and a sound signal in synchronous to said stillimage signal and recording information data for distinguishing a stillimage signal with a sound signal from a still image signal without asound signal, and said display displays a mark for distinguishing astill image signal with still image signal with a sound signal from astill image signal without a sound signal corresponding to eachdisplaying image signals.
 6. A digital camera according to claim 1,wherein said recording information data includes reduced image data. 7.A digital camera according to claim 2, wherein said recordinginformation data includes reduced image data, and said display displaysplurality of said reduced image signal.
 8. A digital camera according toclaim 1, wherein said displays the information data recorded later onhigher locations of the display screen.
 9. A digital camera according toclaim 2, wherein said displays the image recorded later on higherlocations of the display screen.
 10. A digital camera according to claim8, wherein the display sequence may be changed by a user's direction.11. A digital camera according to claim 7, wherein the display sequencemay be changed by a users direction.
 12. A digital camera according toclaim 1, wherein said display displays said mark and said recording timecorresponding to each displaying mark on same row as graphic andliterary notation.
 13. A digital camera according to claim 2, whereinsaid display displays said image and said mark and said recording timecorresponding to each displaying mark on same row as graphic andliterary notation.
 14. A digital camera according to claim 1, whereinsaid recording information data includes information indicatingpreventing erasion, and said display displays a mark indicatingpreventing erasion.
 15. A digital camera according to claim 2, whereinsaid recording information data includes information indicatingpreventing erasion, and said display displays a mark indicatingpreventing erasion.
 16. A digital camera according to claim 1, whereinsaid displays at least one of function buttons which representativesmoving recorded data to a temporary discard area, erasing all data to atemporary discard area, changing a retrieving classification, changingdisplay sequences, changing an erasing attribute, displaying a remainingvolume.
 17. A digital camera according to claim 2, wherein said displaysat least one of function buttons which representatives moving recordeddata to a temporary discard area, erasing all data to a temporarydiscard area, changing a retrieving classification, changing displaysequences, changing an erasing attribute, displaying a remaining volume.18. A digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising a storagemedium; wherein display displays remaining volume of said storagemedium.
 19. An image recording and reproducing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein after one data of the plurality of data displayed in asearch display is selected by an user, said display displays pluralityof said image signal belonging to selected data.
 20. A digital cameraaccording to claim 2, wherein said recording circuit records imagesignal with classification data, and said display displays plurality ofclassification and a number of image belonging to each classification asa classification screen mode, and after directing one classification onsaid classification screen mode said by an user, said display displaysplurality of said image signal belonging to selected classification witha mark for distinguishing a moving image signal from a still imagesignal.
 21. A digital camera according to claim 2, wherein said displaydisplays a number of each moving image, still image, still image withsound, distinguishably, belonging to each classification.
 22. A digitalcamera according to claim 2, wherein said classification is able tochange by a direction of a user.
 23. A digital camera according to claim2, wherein said display said classification including image without adirection of a user higher of a screen.
 24. A digital camera accordingto claim 2, further comprising: a button for changing the display screenfrom said classification screen mode to a mode displaying said pluralityof image, a button for selecting each recording data from a list of therecording data, a button for indicating a function of playing backstopping, fast feeding, and rewinding said image, a button for changingsaid display screen for indicating the functions into display screen forindicating a recording mode, wherein said buttons integrated same onebutton.
 25. A digital camera comprising: a lens, an imaging device whichconverts an optical image into an analog signal; an A/D converter whichconverts said analog signal from said imaging device to a digitalsignal; a compressor which compresses said digital signal outputted fromsaid A/D converter, and generates compressed data by using a differentcompressing method for moving image signals and for still image signals;a recording circuit which records compressed data, said compressed dataincluding a moving image signal, and a still image signal; adecompressor which decompresses said compressed data by using adifferent decompressing method according to whether said recordedcompressed data is a moving image signal or a still image signal; areproducing circuit which reproduces a moving image signal, a soundsignal in synchronous to said moving image signal, and a still imagesignal; and a display which displays said moving image signals and stillimage signals outputted from said reproducing circuit, and a list ofsaid moving image signal and still image signal as a search mode, and alist of classifications as a classification mode; wherein said recordingcircuit records each one of said plurality of image signals withclassification data, and said display lists a plurality ofclassifications and a number of images belonging to each classification.26. A digital camera according to claim 25, wherein said displaydisplays a number of each moving image, still image, still image withsound, distinguishably, belonging to each classification.
 27. A digitalcamera according to claim 25, wherein said classification is able tochange by a direction of a user.
 28. A digital camera according to claim25, wherein said display said classification including image without adirection of a user higher of a screen.
 29. A digital camera comprising:a lens, an imaging device which converts an optical image into an analogsignal; an A/D converter which converts said analog signal from saidimaging device to a digital signal; a compressor which compresses saiddigital signal outputted from said A/D converter, and generatescompressed data by using a different compressing method for moving imagesignals and for still image signals; a recording circuit which recordscompressed data, said compressed data including a moving image signal,and a still image signal; a decompressor which decompresses saidcompressed data by using a different decompressing method according towhether said recorded compressed data is a moving image signal or astill image signal; a reproducing circuit which reproduces a movingimage signal, a sound signal in synchronous to said moving image signal,and a still image signal to a storage medium; a display which displayssaid moving image signal and still image signal outputted from saidreproducing circuit; wherein said recording circuit records recordinginformation data for distinguishing a moving image signal from a stillimage signal to said storage medium, and said display displays aremaining time if only compressed moving image data is recorded to saidstorage medium, a remaining pages if only compressed still picture imagedata is recorded to said storage medium, and a remaining volume of saidstorage medium as a remaining volume displaying mode.
 30. A digitalcamera according to claim 2, wherein after one data of the plurality ofdata displayed in a search display is selected, said display displayssaid image signal belonging to the selected data.
 31. A digital cameraaccording to claim 25, wherein after one data of the plurality of datadisplayed in a search display is selected, said display displays saidimage signal belonging to the selected data.